Rich Stevens' Bird Trips

April, March, February 1998

Chatfield Reservoir 4/30

In five hours of birding I walked from Kingfisher Bridge to Waterton Bridge
and then several miles up Waterton Canyon. Total trip 10 miles.

Yellow Warbler (lst of year, along pond with wooden building at Southern end
House Wrens (18)
Yellow-rumped Warblers (37)
Belted Kingfisher (6 males, 2 females)
Red-tailed Hawks (2)

I observed only the one non-yellow-rumped warbler. No Indigo or Lazuli Buntings

LAKE ESTES 4/28

  • Lake Estes (11:30am to 4:00pm)
    Le Conte?s Sparrow
    Savannah Sparrow
    Myrtle Warbler (1 breeding plumage)
    Mountain Bluebird
    Prairie Falcon
    Violet-green Swallow (several)

    Accompanied by two other birders I (we) observed the LCSP at 1:00pm
    East of Footbridge. It flew to a finger of land just West of Footbridge.
    To complicate matters, there was a Savannah Sparrow also on this finger of land.
    We only observed the SAVS after that and concluded that we did not see the LCSP.

    At 3:00pm I returned and found both birds at the same time.
    The SAVS stayed more toward the footbridge and
    the LCSP was near the West end of the land.
    I got good looks at the LCSP, but it moved toward a nesting Canada Goose.
    I could not pursue the bird for photos.
  • Lee Martinez Park (Fort Collins)
    Osprey (Shields Road end of Park)
    I walked twice from College Avenue to Shields Avenue.
    The Summer Tanager was not observed by me
    •

    WHITE IBIS 4/27

    I traveled down to La Plata county for the White Ibis.
    Monday April 27
  • Saul’s Creek (site of White Ibis)
    White Ibis (beautiful bird, possible second State record, third or fourth sighting)
    Mountain Bluebird (many)
    Violet-green Swallow
  • Bayfield Park (Los Pinos River and Highway 160)
    Audubon Warbler (14 in breeding plumage)
    Northern Rough-winged Swallow (4)
  • Homelake (Monte Vista)
    Turkey Vulture (3)
    Swainson's?s Hawk
  • Fort Garland (3 miles south on highway 159)
    Caution: I do not know status of this area.
    It could be public land or part of the Forbes ranch?
    I have birded here 20 times, never been confronted and
    never observed a no trespassing sign.
    It has a sign that states; Trinchera Watershed.
    Black-throated Sparrow
    Sage Thrasher (2)
  • Burnt Mill Road (goes from 6 miles South of Pueblo to Colorado City)
    This area has several Black Phoebe sightings in the past (and nestlings).
    Northern Mockingbird
  • Valco Ponds, Pueblo
    Broad-winged Hawk
    Yellow-rumped Warbler (18, breeding plumage)
    •

    Colorado Mountain Birding 4/21

    I just finished a pretty good week of birding.
    The first part is my last winter-spring birding trip to the mountains of Colorado.
    April 21
  • Empire, CO
    Band-tailed Pigeon (10)
    I went up mainly to see if any hummingbirds have been spotted yet.
    I could find no sightings (or feeders).
  • Loveland Pass (summit along highway 6)
    Highway is open with no problems. I walked several miles along summit,
    but found no sign of White-tailed Ptarmigan.
  • Hunkidori Trail
    Located just West of Montezuma (along Saints John creek) (highway 5)
    I cross country skied and was looking for Northern Pygmy Owls and such; no success.
  • Argentine Pass Trail (Just North of Montezuma; Cross Country Skied)
    Northern Pygmy Owl (1, approximately 1.75 miles East of trailhead at highway 5)
    Northern Goshawk (1)
  • Montezuma, CO
    I search around vicinity after dark for Boreal Owls; no success.
    •
    April 22
  • Georgetown (Rose and 2nd Avenues)
    All three species of Rosy Finch
    Red-napped Sapsucker (2 males, in surrounding trees, never came to feeders)
    Cassin’s Finch (6+)
  • Guanella Pass Campground
    Three-toed Woodpecker (1 heard; 8:05am) It stayed pretty far back in trees
    just North of Guanella Pass campground.
    I had observed it on April 1 and was going to search for it
    after looking for White-tailed Ptarmigan.
    When I ran into four Georgia birders who had heard it just five minutes early,
    I stopped on way to Guanella summit.
  • Guanella Pass Summit
    White-tailed Ptarmigan (2; 8:35am) Photos on Website
    They were along road, 0.5 miles South of second (southern) parking area.
    The Georgia birders had observed eight birds at 7:00am.
  • Guanella Pass Campground (11:00am)
    I went back searching for TTWO; did not hear or see it.
    Gray Jay (2)
  • Wolford Mountain Recreational Area (North of Kremmling, along highway 40
    Barrow’s Goldeneye (4)
  • Steamboat Springs Park
    Barn Swallow (2)
  • Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek (East and South of Hayden)
    Sharp-tailed Grouse (1 at southern lek; 11 at northern lek)
    Sandhill Crane (2)
    Loggerhead Shrike (2)
    The STGR at the southern lek flew in and called 20 minutes before sunset.
    Ten minutes after sunset the 11 STGR flew almost
    directly over my car (from the East) to the northern lek.
    I would suggest parking North of the Northern lek if searching for the birds in the evening.
    That way one is looking southwest and not directly into the sun.
    •
    April 23
  • Timberlake Sage Grouse Lek
    Sage Grouse (2 observed, 2 more heard)
    I was there hour and 1/2 before sunrise.
    The birds started calling about 45 minutes before sunrise and
    stopped before first direct sunlight.
    They were difficult to observe and I needed my scope.
    I searched other leks without success (Four Mile, Mud Springs, Lodgepole).
    County Road 110 to Mud Springs Lek is closed (water and mud).
    I walked six miles round trip. I did not hear or see any Sage Grouse
    (but did hear one on the East side of CO 13, just as I pulled up to CR 110 around 7:30am.
    Vesper Sparrow (hundreds)
    Golden Eagle
  • Little Snake River WLA (highway 19, 17.5 miles North of Maybelle)
    Sage Thrasher (5)
    Sandhill Crane (11)
    Say’s Phoebe
    Brown-headed Cowbird (2)
  • Elkhead Reservoir
    White-faced Ibis (127)
    Yellow-headed Blackbird (200+)
  • Cameron Pass (summit is just West of mile marker 65 of highway 14)
    Blue Grouse (2, while walking West, 1 mile at sunset)
  • Joe Wright Reservoir
    Boreal Owl (2, North side of highway 14, East end of parking area)
    I drove back West to mile marker 59 (fishing hatchery)
    and proceeded to stop every 0.5 mile to listen for Boreal Owls.
    I continued to East side of Cameron Pass.
    Boreal Owl (2) (mm 61.5; mm 69.5)
    •
    April 24
    After a three hour rest, I proceeded at 4:00am along highway 14 to Fort Collins.
    Highway 14 descends from Cameron pass along the Poudre River.
    There are a dozen or so campgrounds along the highway.
    I stopped at each one and listened for Northern Pygmy and Saw-whet Owls; I found none.
  • Lake Loveland (6:00am)
    Caspian Tern (1)
    Shortly after sunrise, there were several construction trucks on lake shore.
    The noise scared most gulls and tern away (flew Southwest).
  • Latham Reservoir
    Baird’s Sandpiper (many)
    Least Sandpiper (2)
    Long-billed Dowitcher (8)
    Short-billed Dowitcher (1 breeding plumage, notes later)
    Wilson’s Phalarope (12+)
  • Beebe Draw Ponds
    Willet (6)
    Lesser Yellowlegs (1)
    American Avocet
    Black-necked Stilt
  • Latham Reservoir
    Short-billed Dowitcher (again)
  • Crow Valley Campground
    Orange-crowned Warbler (1)
    Yellow-rumped Warbler (2)

    Notes: Short-billed Dowitcher
    What attracted my attention was the white vent that extended into the lower belly.
    The flanks were marked with long and thick dark streaks.
    The tail definitely had white bands much wider than the black bands.
    Even then, I left for Beebe Draw, listing Long-billed Dowitchers and one different bird.
    An hour later I ran into Joe Himmel and mentioned the SBDO possibility at Latham.
    He had been there shortly before and had also observed and wondered about the bird.
    I decided it was worth several hours of my day to return for further study.
    One hour and fifteen minutes later, I heard the familiar alarm of the SBDO-----tu tu tu.
    Sometimes birds are worth a second look. SBDO are not common in Colorado in the spring.
    •
    April 25
  • Murphy’s Pasture (Pawnee National Grasslands)
    McCown’s Longspur (14)
    Spotted Sandpiper (2)
  • Jackson Reservoir
    Audubon’s Warbler
    I could not locate any Long-eared Owls.
  • Muir Springs
    Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2) along South Platte proper
    Forester’s Tern (1) along South Platte proper
  • Morgan-Smith WLA (Highway 85 and 7; Brighton)
    Not much, one Lincoln Sparrow
  • Pond along highway 85, just North of 120 E (South of Brighton)
    Marbled Godwit (2)
    •

    Barr Lake 4/20

    Barr Lake was slow today; four hours of sightings follow:
    House Wren (mile marker 8.1 and 8.5)
    Yellow-headed Blackbird (4) mm 0.5
    Swainson's Hawk (5)
    Black-crowned Night-Heron (1) mm 8.0
    I could not relocate Northern Parula last observed on 4/18

    Chatfield Reservoir 4/19

    I birded Chatfield Reservoir 4 hours starting at first light (6:00am)
    Initially I searched for the Sage Sparrow reported North of the Blue Boat Shed, without success.
    I then walked East to Plum Creek Delta where I observed:
    Hermit Thrush (2)
    Snowy Egret (4)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1)
    Great Blue Heron (3)
    White-faced Ibis (41)

    I returned to North of Blue Boat Shed (at South Marina) and observed
    Sage Sparrow walking beach below trees along water (8:05am)
    Also observed an Audubon Warbler (male, breeding plumage)

    I then drove to Kingfisher Bridge and birded woods on both sides of road
    On the North side of Kingfisher Bridge
    Osprey (2, nesting)
    Broad-winged Hawk (adult)
    Hermit Thrush (2)
    House Wren (1)
    No birds were observed on South side of Kingfisher bridge

    I then proceeded to woods North of the Swim beach where I observed:
    Tree Swallow (2)
    Chipping Sparrow (6)
    Vesper Sparrows (many)
    All in all a beautiful day at Chatfield Reservoir

    Cherry Creek Reservoir 4/16

    A short two hour trip to Cherry Creek Reservoir produced the following sightings:
    Clark's Grebe (1)
    Common Loon (1)
    Swainson's Hawk
    Franklin's Gulls (12+)

    Wheat Ridge Greenbelt 4/14

    Four hours were spent at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt to Johnson Park today (6.0 miles round trip)
    This route has produced two male and one female Northern Cardinal on past trips; none today
    Weather was raining, 45 degrees, little wind
    Birds of interest
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (5)
    Downy Woodpeckers (8)
    Marsh Wrens (6)
    Franklin's Gulls (14)
    Tree Swallow (2) yearbirds
    Black-crowned Night-Heron (4)
    Swainson's Hawk
    Red-tailed Hawk

    BARR LAKE 4/13

    I birded four hours at Barr Lake this morning. Weather was calm, partly cloudy, 58 degrees; beautiful day!
    Swainson's Hawks (2)
    Winter Wren at mile marker 8.4
    Wood Ducks (2) mm 0.2
    Male Northern Parula mm 8.1; my fourth and last pass of mm 8.1, got lucky;
    I watched the bird for 35 minutes.
    Audubon Warbler, male in breeding plumage mm 8.3

    On the way to Barr Lake I pass the East side of
    Rocky Mountain Arsenal (56th avenue and Buckley road)
    One mile North of Eagle Watch Bunker there were three Burrowing Owls
    They nest here and will be around all summer

    SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO 4/9

    I returned at 4:00am April 11, from a productive three days Southeastern Colorado trip.
    The highlights follow:
    April 9:
  • Rocky Ford, CO
    Eurasian-collared Dove (2)
  • HW 50 and Arkansas river (Los Animas)
    White-faced Ibis (9)
  • Rocky Ford WLA
    Turkey Vulture (2)
  • Comanche National Grasslands (burn at H14,
    1/2 mile North of Baca CR W and HW 287)
    Thank you Dan Svingen for directions!
    Mountain Plover (8)
    Burrowing Owls (7)
  • Baca CR W, 1.8 miles West of HW 287
    Mountain Plover (2)
    Long-billed Curlew (1)
    McCown's Longspur (5)
  • HW 287 (1.2 miles North of CR 28)
    Long-billed Curlew
  • Baca CR 36 and CR G (0.2 miles North of intersection)
    Lark Bunting (male in breeding plumage)
  • Campo Prairie Chicken Lek
    Lesser Prairie-Chicken (9 males) (15 birds observed on April 6)
  • Discovered Second Lek (1.3 miles East-Southeast of presently visited lek)
    Lesser Prairie-Chicken (4)
  • Cassin's Sparrow (1) (2.3 miles East, 1.7 miles South of Entrance to advertised Lek)
    Two Cassin's Sparrows observed at Lek by unnamed Birder on April 6.
    •
    April 9:
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek
    Nine male birds
    Prairie Falcon
    Ferruginous Hawk
    Lark Bunting (male in winter plumage)
    Vesper Sparrow (5)
  • Baca CR 49, 0.5 miles North of CR K
    Long-billed Curlew (1)
    McCown's Longspur (12+)
    Mountain Plover (2)
  • Baca CR 81 and CR X
    Common Grackle (327, COGR are all over the place,
    but I had never observed so many in one place before)
  • Birchfield Wildlife Area (Baca CR 55 and CR DD)
    White-throated Sparrow (1 adult)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2)
    Sign of the times; last year I observed my first Ostrich roadkill near Sheridan Lake,
    now I observe a male Peacock in a wildlife area. I assume it is not ABA countable. :-)
  • Baca CR 56, 0.5 miles South of HW 160
    Swainson's Hawk (yearbird for me)
    Loggerhead Shrike (2)
  • Baca CR 89 and CR S
    Lark Bunting (120+)
  • Hammit Wildlife Area (HW 50 and CR 39)
    Fox Sparrow (Eastern, at confluence of Canal and Arkansas river)
    Loggerhead Shrike (3)
  • Holly Rest Stop
    Burrowing Owl (3, prairie dog town North of HW 50 from RS)
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1)
    Swainson's Hawk
  • Thurston Reservoir (Prowers CR 7, 1.2 North of CR SS)
    Sandhill Crane (1000+)
    Snow Goose (600+)
    Ross's Goose (5)
    Ferruginous Hawk
  • Snowy Owl Site (Prowers CR SS, 2.1 miles East of HW 287)
    Snowy Owl (I did not observe it at 4:00pm,
    but when I returned at 7:00pm it was North of Radio tower,
    about 2 times further back than the water tank)
    Burrowing Owl (10)
  • Upper Queens Reservoir (Kiowa CR 3, 3 miles East of HW 287)
    Long-eared Owl (2, behind restrooms)
  • Neenoshe Reservoir (several miles North of Upper Queens)
    Brown-headed Cowbirds (24+)
    • April 10:
  • Fort Lyons Wildlife Area West (South on HW 183, just West of Hospital)
    At first light I walked the first 1/2 mile (dry land) and then in waders
    walked to the electrical monstrosity constructed from three telephone poles.
    Virginia Rail (2 + 4 heard)
    Sora (1)
    American Bittern (I would have missed it if it had not flown for me.)
    Black-crowned Night-Heron
    Marsh Wren (2 + 6 heard)
    Say's Phoebe (1)
    Cinnamon Teal (2 males)
  • HW 184 and HW 50
    White-faced Ibis (9)
    Cattle Egret (2)
  • HW 184, 5.5 miles West of HW 50; BIRD OF THE TRIP
    Glossy Ibis (one adult between alternate and basic plumage
    White-faced Ibis (7)
    Location: There was a small (two car lengths) silver bridge
    5.5 West of HW 50; 0.2 miles East of CR 55.

  • Lake Cheraw
    Bonaparte's Gull (4)
    Black-necked Stilt (2)
    Lesser Yellowlegs
    Stilt Sandpiper (early)
  • Lake Holbrook (not much)
  • Rocky Ford Wildlife Area (not much)
  • Lake Meredith (not much)
  • Lake Henry (not much)
    Clark's Grebe
    Black-crowned Night-Heron
  • HW 96 (1.6 miles East of mile marker 81)
    Curve-billed Thrasher (singing atop a Rabbitbrush)
  • Olive Marsh of Pueblo (Carolina Wren sight,
    1.5 miles West of parking area, South of the Arkansas river)
    Carolina Wren. I heard it briefly (20 seconds) in the two hours I stayed there.
    When the wind picked up and the Swainson's Hawk flew in, birding became rather quiet.
    Harris's Sparrow (immature, along railroad tracks just past second pond)
    White-throated Sparrow (molting to adult plumage)
    Swainson's Hawk
  • Western end of Pueblo Reservoir
    I searched for three hours for Western Screech Owl (without success).
  • Teller County FR 335, West of HW 67
    Northern Saw-whet Owl (1 heard)
    •

    Cherry Creek Reservoir 4/7

    Today at Cherry Creek, temperature 45 degrees and intermittent snow:
    Osprey
    Turkey Vulture
    Cinnamon Teal (2 males, 1 female)
    Blue-winged Teal (5 males, 2 females)
    Cooper's Hawk
    Thayer's Gull (lst year)
    Great-horned Owl with two fledglings
    Bald Eagle (five)

    Clear Creek County Birding 4/1

    Bryan Ehlmann and I went up to Georgetown and Guanella Pass
    We observed many Gray-crowned and three Black Rosy Finches at
    Rose and 2nd Avenues, 5:55am. The Birds seemed to disappear by 7:00am

    We then proceeded to Guanella Pass where we observed
    three White-tailed Ptarmigan around the second parking area, 9:30am
    There may have been more than three, but we chose not to disturb the birds
    anymore than we already had.

    On the way back to Denver, We stopped at Guanella Pass Campground
    Walking the road to the North, we observed and heard a Three-toed Woodpecker
    Approximately 0.2 miles North of campground gate

    EASTERN COLORADO 3/26

    Thursday 26
  • Higby Wildlife Area
    Virginia Rail
    Common Snipe
    Cinnamon Teal (2)
  • Holly Rest Stop
    Northern Cardinal (m)
    Bobwhite (6)
    Field Sparrow (3) (0.4 miles West along old highway)
  • Hammit Wildlife Area
    Harris' Sparrow (2 adults, 3 immature) along Arkansas river
  • Prowers County Roads 35 and LL (1 mile north and south of intersection)
    Mountain Plover (5)
    McCown's Longspur (9)
    Burrowing Owl (3)
  • Upper Queens Reservoir
    Barn Owl (1)
    Bonaparte's Gull (1)
    Franklin's Gull (many)
    •
    Friday 27
  • Thurston Reservoir
    Whooping Crane (possible, immature)
  • Prowers County Road SS
    Snowy Owl (1, 1/4 mile north of CR SS)
    •

    EASTERN COLORADO 3/23

    Monday 23:
  • Big Johnson Reservoir (5:55am)
    Oldsquaw (male in alternate plumage)
    Red-breasted Merganser (8+)
  • Pueblo Olive Marsh
    Singing Carolina Wren
  • Pueblo Reservoir
    Not much
  • Swallows (located at the northwest end of Pueblo reservoir)
    Osprey (yearbird for me)
  • One White-faced Ibis (At the canal just East of Lane 67,
    along Highway 50 between Pueblo and La Junta.)
  • Lake Henry
    Black-crowned Night-Heron (yearbird)
    Great-tailed Grackle (47)
  • Lake Cheraw
    One Long-billed Dowitcher
  • La Junta Sewage Ponds (behind airport and golf course)
    Greater Roadrunner
  • Vogel Canyon (18 miles South of La Junta on HW 109)
    Say's Phoebe (2)
    Mountain Bluebirds (34)
  • Carrizo Picnic Area (just west on Baca CR M and 5)
    Short-eared Owl
    Scaled Quail (2)
    Greater Roadrunner (1)
    •
    Tuesday 24:
  • Cottonwood Canyon
    Western Screech-Owls (three)
    Eastern Phoebe (3, each 0.8 miles apart; they do nest here)
    Long-eared Owl (I thought I had heard one calling at 3:00am,
    this one was in the canyon 0.7 miles West of camping area and called 14 times at 1:00pm!
    I eventually saw two LEOW in that canyon.
    One of the WESO called at 3:30pm near the camping area).
    Lewis' Woodpeckers (there are many, the canyon to the West had over 30,
    this is the first year I have found them in that canyon).
    Rufous-crowned Sparrow (5 observed, 7 more heard)
    Greater Roadrunner (2 observed, 7 more heard)
    Wild Turkey (17)
    Rock Wren (2)
    Canyon Wren (2)
    Steller's Jay (1, I do not see them often here)
    Chihuahuan Raven (many)
    Common Raven (2)
    Merlin! along with many American Kestrel
  • Picture Canyon
    Rufous-crowned Sparrow (2)
    Rock Wren (4)
  • Upland Bird Management Area (Baca CR D and 24)
    Chestnut-collared Longspur (4+)
    McCown's Longspur (12+)
    (I walked to the windmill three miles to the East of above intersection.)
  • Prairie Chicken Lek
    Lesser Prairie Chickens (5 males)
    Short-eared Owl (1)
    •
    Wednesday 25:
  • Prairie Chicken Lek
    Lesser Prairie Chickens (5 males)
  • Baca CR 41 and Y
    Sage Thrasher (2)
    Scaled Quail (1)
    Ferruginous Hawk
  • Birchfield Lake
    Ferruginous Hawk
  • Two Buttes Reservoir
    Virginia Rail
    Greater Roadrunner (near house North of dam)
    •

    Wheat Ridge Greenbelt 3/17

    Today I walked from Johnson Park to Wheat Ridge Greenbelt and back (approximately 6 miles).
    Johnson Park is at the southwest corner of Wadsworth and Interstate 70.
    Notable bird was a female Northern Cardinal.
    She was 0.8 miles west of the Johnson's parking area.
    I think I got a fair picture of her and will put it on my website before retiring tonight.
    I also have posted photos of the Glaucous Gull that
    I observed at Union Reservoir last Thursday (March 12).

    Yesterday (March 16) I observed along with many others, the Tufted Duck (hybrid?)
    and male Barrow's Goldeneye at the first pond East of the South Platte and North of 74th avenue.

    Afterwards I birded Wheat Ridge Greenbelt. Notable birds:
    Northern Cardinal (male) thanks to Dennis and Lori Curry
    American Dipper
    Eastern Screech-Owl (1, local walkers are now seeing up to four birds)
    Spotted Towhee
    Common Snipe

    Last night I returned to Daniel's Park road
    (site of Sunday's Pinyon Jay sightings) from 10:00pm to 12:00am.
    I did not hear the Pygmy Owl. The resident who notified me about
    the bird is going to call me the next time he and his wife hear it.

    Daniel's Park 3/15

    I read the post concerning Pinyon Jays at Daniel's Park at 3:25pm and headed out that way.
    I observed three Pinyon Jays around the house that the directions indicated.
    There were Western Bluebirds (a male and female) inspecting
    one of the bluebird boxes on the golf course.
    Up the hill by the Daniel's Park sign, there were 26 Mountain Bluebirds.
    One of the residents explained that he and his wife had been hearing an owl for the past three nights.
    I played tapes of four possible owls and he picked out the Northern Pygmy Owl call.
    Not scientific, but it presented an interesting possibility.

    I could only stay until 8:00pm and heard no owl calls by that time.
    I might try again tomorrow night.
    By the way, 82 Elk walked along the golf course while
    I waited for the owl (the elk are observed through here most mornings).

    COLORADO PLAINS 3/13-14

    March 14:
    I found nothing much new on the Eastern Plains the last two days.
    I ended my trip by looking for the Tufted Duck along the South Platte this afternoon.

  • South Platte (Route: I parked at 88th avenue and walked south along Platte to 74th avenue.
    Then I crossed over Platte East to Frontage road to Dahlia back to 88th avenue
    (loop--approximately 4.5 miles). This loop allows good viewing of the eight ponds along
    this section of the South Platte. No success finding the Tufted Duck (3 and 1/2 hours)!

    Barrow's Goldeneye(male, first pond East of Platte, North of 74th ave)
    Greater Scaup (1 male, second pond East of Platte, North of 74th ave)
    •
    March 14--morning:
  • Republican Wildlife Area
    Eastern Screech-owl (1)
    Eastern Bluebirds (21)
    Red-bellied Woodpecker (male, female)
    Wood Duck (male, female)
  • Bonnie Reservoir
    Blue-wing Teal (6)
  • Last Chance Rest Stop
    Not Much
    •
    March 13:
  • Sterling Reservoir
    Bald Eagle (9)
  • Jumbo Reservoir
    Bald Eagle (27)
  • Ovid Woods
    Northern Cardinal (2 male, 1 female)
    Red-bellied Woodpecker (2 male, 2 female)
    Harris' Sparrow (2)
  • Sand Draw WLA
    Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Sandsage WLA
    Common Snipe (4)
    •

    NORTHERN COLORADO 3/12

    What a beautiful day our weather brought us today (55 degrees and no wind).
    I enjoyed a pretty good day of birding also; highlights follow.
  • Dodd Reservoir (at first light)
    Trumpeter Swan
    Tundra Swan
  • Lyons, CO
    I searched three hours for the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of Lyons.
    No success for fourth time this year.
    Downy Woodpecker
    Hairy Woodpecker
    Stellar Jays (many)
  • Union Reservoir
    Glaucous Gull (1st or 2nd winter)
    I would lean toward a worn and faded 2nd winter bird.
    The bird was pure white. It had a dark eye (I was about 25 yards away).
    The bill had black on the tip, but not all the way to the tip.
    Flesh colored on the end of bill (same width as black band). Legs were flesh colored.
  • Bittersweet Park, Greeley
    American Black Duck (female)
  • Latham Reservoir
    Canvasback (many)
  • Jackson Reservoir
    Long-eared Owl (27)
    Dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk
  • Muir Springs
    Marsh Wren (3)
    Harlan's Hawk
    American Tree, Song, White-crowned Sparrows (many)
    •

    EASTERN COLORADO 3/3

  • Prowers County Road SS, 2.8 miles east of 287
    Snowy Owl (at 15 yards, sitting on fence post 6:15am)
  • Thurston Reservoir
    Snow Goose (1000's)
    Sandhill Crane (1000's)
  • Lamar Community College
    Not much
  • John Martin Reservoir
    Northern Harrier dive-bombing a Rough-legged Hawk
    Not much else (zero waterfowl and gulls?)
  • Lake Cheraw
    Clark's Grebe (2)
    Ruddy Duck (male in breeding plumage)
    Horned Grebe (many, 1 male breeding plumage)
    Many waterfowl
  • Rocky Ford (highway 50, 1.2 miles west of Barber Shop)
    Eurasian Collared-Dove (8)
  • Big Johnson Reservoir
    Oldsquaw (1f)
    Red-breasted Merganser (2+)
    •

    AROUND DENVER 3/2

  • South Platte River and 88th avenue
    Oldsquaw (1 male, pond south of parking area)
  • Pond South of Dahlia and 88th avenue
    Barrow's Goldeneye (1 male)

    • NORTHERN AND EASTERN COLORADO 2/18

    I just returned from three days birding in Northern and Eastern Colorado; highlights follow.
    February 18:
    (Beautiful day, no wind, middle 40's)
  • Crow Valley Nature Center
    Common Redpoll (1 female; thanks Duane Weber)
  • Pawnee National Grasslands
    Lapland Longspur (Murphy's Pasture, 2)
  • Jackson Reservoir
    Long-eared Owl (23)
  • Highway 144; 1.8 miles west of Muir Springs; bridge over Bijou Creek
    Common Snipe (18)
  • Muir Springs
    Sharp-shinned Hawk (1)
  • Riverside Park, Fort Morgan
    I could not locate Greater White-fronted Geese of Feb 12.
  • Prewitt Reservoir
    Bald Eagle (19)
    Snow Goose (12)
    • February 19:
    (Warm day, much wind,)
  • Tamarack Ranch (I76 at exit 149)
    Many Rough-leg and Red-tail Hawk
  • Red Lion-Jumbo Annex
    Snow Goose (1)
  • Jumbo Reservoir
    Herring Gull (4 adults)
    Bald Eagle (14)
  • Ovid Woods
    In one hour (usually I spend three to four hours;
    in my experience the Cardinals make a two and one half to three hour loop of the territory)
    Northern Cardinal (2 male)
    Red-bellied Woodpecker (4 male; 2 female)
    Snow Goose (4000 in field just north of school)
    Ross' Goose (at least 2)
    Blue Goose (27)
  • Pond at Sedgwick CR 28 and 31.5
    Greater White-fronted Goose (182 !!)
  • Sand Draw WLA
    Lapland Longspur (4, just west of wla)
    Ring-necked Pheasant (31 female)
  • Wray Fishing Unit
    American Robin (800 plus)
  • Sandsage WLA (four miles west of Wray) Winds finally stopped 3:30pm.
    While checking the tallest barn for barn owls—Eastern Screech-Owl!
    Harris' Sparrow (2)
    • February 20:
    (Warm, 50's, no wind)
  • Republican WLA (east of Bonnie Reservoir dam) Eastern Bluebird (54) Red-bellied Woodpecker (1 male; 1 female)
  • Bonnie Reservoir Bald Eagle (18) Redhead Duck (600+) Herring Gull (1 adult)
  • Last Chance Rest Stop Only birds were 'Passer domesticus'

    • WYOMING SNOWY OWL 2/15

    I checked out the beautiful rolling hills of southern Wyoming Sunday morning for the Snowy Owl.
    A three hour search starting at first light did not produce results.
  • Hamilton Reservoir had at least one Common Loon.
  • Larimer County roads 68 and 15; the sixth trip was lucky.
    I found two male and two female Eastern Bluebirds.
    There is a draw and creek just east of this intersection.
    The Bluebirds were flying around the picnic tables about 300 yards to the North.
  • The Trumpeter and Tundra Swans were still at Dodd Reservoir.

    • BIRDING NORTHERN COLORADO 2/14

    Weather this week was beautiful on the plains; warm, very little wind.
    Wednesday 11:
  • Bittersweet Park, Greeley
    Did not re-find the American Black Duck of last week of January
  • Pond north of Orthopedic center (Prospect road in Fort Collins)
    Eurasian Wigeon (male)
  • Hamilton Reservoir
    Could not relocate Gyrfalcon in four hour search
  • Crow Valley Campground (Briggsdale)
    Northern Shrike (2)
  • Pawnee Buttes (Escarpment access closes March 1)
    Golden Eagle
    Prairie Falcon
    • Thursday 12:
  • Tamarack Ranch
    Red-bellied Woodpecker (male)
  • Ovid Woods (active day, no wind, temperature 45)
    Red-bellied Woodpecker (2 male; 3 female)
    Northern Cardinal (3 male; 2 female)
    Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
    Brewer's Blackbird (7)
  • Red Lion-Jumbo Annex WLA
    Red-breasted Merganser (2)
  • Riverside Park, Fort Morgan
    Greater White-fronted Goose (3)
  • Muir Springs Park
    White-throated Sparrow (1)
    • Friday 13:
  • Jackson Reservoir
    Long-eared Owl (5)
    Great Horned Owl (2)
    Eastern Screech-Owl (1, called most of the night, found it in the morning)
    Searched hard for a fourth species, but no Short-eared Owls found.
    Barrow's Goldeneye (male, first county record for me)
  • Red Rocks Park, Morrison
    Fox Sparrow
    Did not relocate Purple Finch
    •      More Trip Reports

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